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The Coronavirus | The latest news and advice

UPDATED TUESDAY 26 MAY

Response and Policy

The situation and news surrounding the Coronavirus is changing on a daily basis, as are our learnings and understanding of the measures required to slow its spread. As we have seen in China, in Italy and elsewhere in the world, local governments are identifying their own response path.

Whilst our advice for customers is always guided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Sunvil's experienced operations team are also monitoring the news and official advice on Covid-19, and are in regular dialogue with our colleagues on the ground in resort. The health and safety of our customers, staff and local partners is paramount.

For the foreseeable future, Sunvil's telephone lines will open at 09:15 each morning to provide our teams with the opportunity to be briefed on the latest events. This policy will be updated to reflect the evolution of the virus and the response measures introduced to reduce its spread.

We understand that you may have questions concerning your confirmed holiday or proposed trip and have compiled a short Q&A below. Any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us on 020 8568 4499.

Remember that in a fast-changing situation like this, we may not have clear answers to every question. But we will always do our best to tell you clearly what we know, and what we don’t know.

Our guidance: FCO travel advice

It has always been a condition of booking that all our travellers have valid insurance, including health insurance, when they travel. This remains as important as ever. You can read about your rights in the Q&A by the Association of British Insurers here.

Sunvil has always followed the travel advice of the UK government's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Where issues of illness and infection are concerned, the FCO usually mirrors the advice of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

FCO advice is frequently modified and adapted. To avoid jumping the gun, we wait until much closer to departure, and sometimes as little as 14 days, before following the FCO advice that applies at that time.

Then, if the FCO advises against “all but essential travel” to a particular area, we will respond swiftly and individually to travellers who are about to be imminently affected. If we have travellers in these areas, we make great efforts to move them out. Travellers who have trips which are due to traverse or stay in these areas will be re-routed or have their trips deferred.

1. What happens if my holiday plans are affected?

The situation surrounding the Coronavirus (Covid-19) is fluid, but rest assured that Sunvil’s operations team are keeping abreast of the latest advice. We are not virologists, but we are experts in our field and have tried and tested response measures in place.

On Tuesday 17 March, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued advice against all but non-essential travel for 30 days. On Saturday 04 April this advice was extended to an indefinite period of time.

As of 26 May, we have taken the decision to offer all clients travelling before 30 June the opportunity to defer their holidays to a date later in the season or to travel in 2021. Alternatively, a fully-bonded Refund Credit Note covering the money paid to date will be issued and can be used against a new holiday for 2020 or 2021 when booked before 31 January 2021. Cash refunds can be requested but we would urge you firstly to consider a Refund Credit Note, which is fully financially protected, is refunded if unused and aids our cash flow in these difficult times for the company.

For clients travelling between 01-31 July we have reduced the balance due date to four weeks prior to departure to allow additional breathing space.

We have always treated our clients as individuals and this situation is no different.

2. I have a holiday booked with you, what are my options?

We are in a fast-changing situation regarding what is known about the spread of COVID-19 and its effects.

We ask you not to request any changes to your booking until 4 weeks before you are due to travel with us, as the circumstances may well change between now and that date.

Should you be due to travel with us after 30 June and are considering cancelling your holiday, please note that cancellation fees will apply. In this instance we suggest you carefully read your travel insurance policy to check it will cover your loss. Please call your insurer if you are not sure. It is unlikely that your travel insurance will cover lost monies for disinclination to travel.

3. Can I delay paying the balance of my holiday?

Whilst the payment of your holiday on the date stated on our confirmation invoice would be preferred, we appreciate that this is not business as normal and that our clients may feel anxious about parting with this money in these uncertain times.

We have therefore amended our balance due date to four weeks prior to departure for those travelling up until 31 July

For clients travelling on 01 August or later, the balance due date remains as per your confirmation invoice. Unfortunately, we have financial obligations to our suppliers which increase as time passes. Hence, we suggest that you:

Pay your balance on time and travel as planned; or

Cancel your trip, accepting you will lose the deposit you have paid us.

4. Can I defer my holiday?

If you wish to defer your trip, then we will do our very best to make this possible for you.

We suggest the best time to consider doing this is between 10 and 8 weeks out (or 4 weeks when travelling before 01 August) i.e. before payment of your balance becomes due.

At this stage, for holidays to Greece transferring to a date later in 2020 or to travel in 2021, and using our regular charter flights, we will provide a quotation for your revised departure date. For holidays due to depart on or after 01 August an administration fee (£35 per person) is payable. Where the deferral is to a holiday travelling in 2021 a further deposit of £200 per person will also be due.

For holidays not inclusive of our regular charter flights, we will look at each trip on a case-by-case basis and will work to make the necessary changes at as little cost as possible. Unfortunately, any airfare losses or supplier administration fees, plus any variation in holiday price due to seasonality, will need to be passed to you. A further deposit amount may be required once the amended travel plans are in place for those holidays departing in 2021.

Please note that Early Booking Offers applicable to your original holiday cannot be carried across to your new reservation.

5. What are your cancellation terms?

Our cancellation charges are listed below:

Sunvil and GIC The Villa Collection (excluding Sunvil Latin America).

56 days or more before departure: Deposit only

55-43 days before departure: 30%

42-29 days before departure: 40%

28-22 days before departure: 60%

21-15 days before departure: 80%

14 days or less before departure: 100%

Sunvil Latin America

60 days or more before departure: Deposit only

59-30 days before departure: 50%

29-22 days before departure: 70%

21-15 days before departure: 80%

14 days or less before departure: 100%

Important notes:

Amended cancellation terms apply to bookings departing until 31 July. In this case up to 29 days prior to departure any cancellation would incur a loss of deposit. 28 days prior to departure and less, the terms and conditions remain as above.

We reserve our right to pass on to you any cancellation charges imposed by our suppliers which are in excess of the cancellation charges set out above. In particular, any ‘bought-in flight element’ will be charged at 100% cancellation fees for the flight.

6. What can I do?

Travellers are advised to read the Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice for the country they are travelling to, which includes a link through to the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) TravelHealthPro website that provides specific travel health advice for countries. You may also wish to familiarise yourself with the latest advice from the World Health Organisation.

We repeat our recommendation not to take overhasty action to cancel if your holiday is some way off - far better to wait until shortly before the final balance is due to be paid and then speak to us if you have concerns, as the situation is fast changing. Our cancellation charges (other than loss of deposit) do not apply until this point so the cost of delaying your decision before then is zero.

7. What happens if I am ill and cannot travel?

You should contact your travel insurance provider to claim a refund for the monies paid to Sunvil. Cancellations should be made in writing.

Please read your policy and call your insurer if you are not sure – and please also keep us informed of the situation if your trip is imminent.

8. What are the latest travel recommendations for those over 70 years of age?

ABTA’s guidance regarding customers over 70 years of age, and/or with a medical condition, is that the Government advice against travel relates to the capacity of the individual to travel, not to the deliverability of the arrangements, and therefore does not give rise to a right to refund.

9. Can I still book a holiday with you?

Yes. Sunvil's country specialists are on the end of the phone to help design your perfect break. You can even save up to 40% on selected Greece holidays and our 2021 trips are now on sale.

Note: For the vast majority of Sunvil's destinations, tourism is a key contributor to the local economy. Our approach to holidays places you in lesser-known areas where you will eat, socialise and relax alongside those who live and work there, thus ensuring that your holiday spend spreads along the local supply chain. A reduction in visitor numbers will inevitably have significant consequences to businesses and therefore we are looking to postpone the holidays of our guests wherever possible, rather than cancelling in the first instance.

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Chris Wright

Chris is the Sunvil Group’s managing director and is not only responsible for the overall running of the company, the welfare of its staff, the fabric of the building, the efficient working of its computer systems but also for overseeing and contracting much of the accommodation on the GIC The Villa Collection programme. He is a very hands on managing director, a friend and helper to all, mad on aircraft and indefatigable. Chris joined The Greek Islands Club in 1993, after two years running a scouts’ holiday camp in Wales. He was responsible for maintaining The Club’s sailing boats on Paxos and generally acting as a rep for the villas. Sunvil Inherited Chris on purchasing GIC in 1998 and his abilities were quickly realised. He well deserves the top job.

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Foreign Office advice

We’ve partnered with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Aware campaign to help provide top tips and advice for planning for your trip abroad. It’s important to do some research before you travel to learn about any necessary visas and vaccinations required for entry to your destination, understand any unusual laws and customs and to be aware of the latest travel advice for the region. Click on the link below for more information on what to prepare for your trip overseas. You can also sign up for email alerts and follow @FCOtravel on Twitter for alerts whilst you are away.

Make an Enquiry

Please use this form to request further information about a Sunvil holiday or destination.

We promise that a member of our specialist reservation teams will reply personally to your holiday enquiry before 5.30pm if received before 12.00pm (Monday to Friday). Enquiries received after 12.00pm will be replied to within 24-hours (excluding Sundays).

If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.

Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.

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Email newsletters

Register here to receive regular email newsletters from the Sunvil Family, and be the first to hear about our latest news, holiday inspiration, special offers, events and competitions.

You can opt-out at any time by using the unsubscribe button on our emails, by contacting us on 020 8568 4499 or by emailing data@sunvil.co.uk, and control the volume and content of the emails that you receive in our preference centre.

For full details on how we collect and process your personal data can be viewed in our privacy policy.

We promise that a member of our specialist reservation teams will reply personally to your holiday enquiry before 5.30pm if received before 12.00pm (Monday to Friday). Enquiries received after 12.00pm will be replied to within 24-hours (excluding Sundays).

If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.

Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.

Alternatively, please enter your query in the box below:

Email newsletters

Register here to receive regular email newsletters from the Sunvil Family, and be the first to hear about our latest news, holiday inspiration, special offers, events and competitions.

You can opt-out at any time by using the unsubscribe button on our emails, by contacting us on 020 8568 4499 or by emailing data@sunvil.co.uk, and control the volume and content of the emails that you receive in our preference centre.

For full details on how we collect and process your personal data can be viewed in our privacy policy.

Thank you for your enquiry

Thank you for your enquiry. A member of our specialist reservation teams will be in touch shortly.

If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.

Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.

Greece: 020 8758 4758

Cyprus: 020 8758 4759

Portugal, the Azores, Italy, Sicily and Scandinavia: 020 8758 4722

Latin America: 020 8758 4774

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My Suitcase

We understand that so much choice can be overwhelming which is why we have developed 'My Suitcase'. This facility allows you to save and compare your favourite holidays, and even allows you to return to your selection at a later stage.

Why not use 'My Suitcase' to compile a wish list of your future Sunvil holidays?